Ruler



R. JEWELL.

(No Model.)

RULER.

Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

7 Even m STATES ATENT FICEQ YIRULER.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 518,758, dated April 24, 1894.

Application filed March 31, 1893. Serial No. 468,536- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAJOR RoMEYN J EW- ELL, of Rochester, in the county of-Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rulers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

My improvement relates to flexible rulers made of thin steel or other suitable material, and in general features resembles that patented by O. E. Jewell and M. R. Jewell December 30, 1890, No. 443,652; being provided with a strip which raises one edge of the ruler from the surface on which it rests. In said patent two strips are used, located on opposite sides of the ruler and adjacent to both edges.

In my present invention a strip is employed adjacent to one edge only, but of such size as to project from both surfaces, projections being coincident or in the same vertical line, by which means one edge only of the ruler is used for penciling and the other for pen use, instead of alternate edges as in the before mentioned patent.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan View of the ruler showing the strip divided into two sections with a single closed space of the ruler between them. Fig. 2 is asimilarview showing the strip divided into three sections with two closed spaces of the ruler between them. Fig. 3 is a View of the ruler-blank corresponding with Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing cross sections of the ruler in opposite or reversed positions. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one end of the strip. Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Figs.,1 and 2 but showing a modification in the attachment of the strip to the ruler. Fig. 7 is a cross section of Fig. 6.

A indicates the ruler, which is made of thin metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material, so as to spring and. adapt itself to any curved surface over which it may be used. As shown in the drawings it has an opening a in the center which is of slightly greater width than the sides I) b, by which means when lines are drawn along the edges they will be parallel and equidistant apart, as described in the before mentioned Letters Patent. r r

will bend with the ruler.

B is the strip which is inserted in the ruler for the purpose of raising one edge higher than the other. It is made in sections of rubber, or some other yielding material, which The ruler is provided on one of its sides with narrow longitudinal grooves c 0, having offsets or openings 0' c of greater width than the slots, as shown in Fig. 3. The strip Bis also provided with shallow grooves d d on two opposite sides, the body of the strip projecting above and below said grooves. The strip is attached to the ruler by inserting one end into one of the openings 0', pushing the strip along till it is fully seated and'fills the groove from end to end, and when so seated the rear end drops into and fills the opening 0', as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The strip is held in place by the fitting of its grooves over the edges of the slot. The sections are disposed at intervals the whole length of the ruler, leaving one or more solid portions f of the ruler between them in order to insure proper strength of the ruler. Fig. 1 shows two of such sections with a single break, and Fig. 2 shows three sections with two breaks. If desired a greater or less number of sections may be used.

By the construction above described the supporting strip is on one side of the ruler, only, adjacent to one edge, and the projection is from both surfaces in the same coincident line, instead of two being employed on opposite sides and adjacent to both edges as in the patent before referred to. The construction is much simpler, inasmuch as the bodyof the ruler is divested of any projection at one edge and is flat over the greater portion of its surfaoe,'which renders it easier to handle and pack, and facilitates its use. The same advantage is attained, as it can be used either side up, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and one side rests in contact with the supporting surface and'the other raised above it, thereby adapting it to use with both pencil and pen. The forms now shown are the result of difficulty experienced in cementing strips of rubber to steel after the latter has been polished and plated.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of the strip each section consisting of two short pieces of rubber tube strung on a loop of wire, said loop being passed through holes and projecting on opposite sides in the same coincident line, whereby the opposite edge of the ruler can be brought in direct contact with a supporting surface either side up, said strip extending longitudinally of the ruler and being of such length as to support the 20 same, as herein shown and described.

2. A ruler consisting of a body or plate and a supporting strip extending longitudinally of the same adjacent to one edge thereof, the plate having a slot to receive the strip and the strip provided with grooves in its sides to embrace the edges of the slot, as specified.

3. A ruler consisting of a body or plate and a supporting strip extending longitudlnally of the same adjacent to one edge thereof, the plate provided with a slot to receive the strip, said slot having an offset to allow the entrance of the strip, and the strip provided with grooves to embrace the edges of the slot as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAJOR ROMEYN J E WELL.

'Witnesses:

R. F. OSGOOD, C. R. Oseooo. 

